ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVII, Issue 4, 20 October 1923, Page 271

ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES.

IN order to ensure reply to questions, correspondents must give their name and address, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Letters should be addressed to the Editor.

FARMING-PRACTICE ON PUMICE LAND. “ Sparring for Knowledge,” Rotorua : —

Is it good farming-practice on pumice soil of superior quality to burn off the fern and scrub, plough, and leave in that condition without a crop for twelve months or more ? Would it be better to plough tall fern under and leave it to decompose, also without seeding ? Is the basic slag at present on the market as efficacious as superphosphate on a pumiceous soil ? In the Taupo district turnips can be grown on virgin land on the first furrow, with little cultivation. Here, on a much better soil, this cannot be done without first growing clover. Why the anomaly ? What manure would bring about that much-desired result ?

The Fields Division :—

If the scrub you refer to is mainly light manuka you are advised to burn it with' the fern and plough without delay as deeply as the soil will allow. Disk, harrow, and roll well, with a Cambridge roller if possible. Work up a good seed-bed and sow turnips. This crop can be put in about November or December. When fed off, work up the soil and put down grass about October. Tall fern can be treated similarly. If the scrub is chiefly heavy manuka it should be cut. and later burnt. If this is done by February surface-sow with the following mixture : 3 lb. Italian rye-grass, 5 lb. perennial rye-grass, 4 lb. Yorkshire fog, 6 lb. Danthonia pilosa, 2 lb. Chewings fescue, 1 lb. brown-top, 2 lb,, crested dogstail, 1 lb. white clover total, 24 lb. per acre. After a number of years the area can be ploughed, worked down, and sown in permanent pasture.

If you require fertilizers for top-dressing pasture a mixture of equal parts of superphosphate and basic slag gives good results on pumice soils. For sowing down pasture 2 cwt. to 3 cwt. of super is to be recommended. This dressing will give better results if the land has been limed. The slag on the market made by the Bessemer process is to be recommended. If you lime the soil, using 5 cwt. to 15 cwt. of ground limestone per acre, and use a mixture consisting of a good line of bonedust and super at the rate of 2 cwt. to 3 cwt. per acre, you should get satisfactory results on the first furrow with turnips. One part of blood-and-bone to two of super should be used. It must be remembered that pumice soils generally are deficient in nitrogen. A crop like turnips, following clover, will derive benefit from the humus added by the clover crop, which, apart from other benefits, supplies nitrogen. When clover precedes turnips it must be expected that the latter crop will benefit by the residue from the clover.

CASTRATION OF CALVES.

“ Carduus,” Marton

Will you please inform me as to the best method of castrating bull calves, and the age at which it is done ?

The Live-stock Division :—

Bull calves are generally castrated as soon as the testicles can be found in the scrotum, or purse. The method of castration is as follows : The calf is turned up in a sitting position and held there by an assistant. The operator then pulls che testicles down until the skin over them is stretched tightly. An incision is made at the lower end of the purse, over one testicle, which is then forced through the wound. The blood-vessels and the cord are then severed by scraping with the blunt part of the knife while still being stretched.' This scraping prevents much bleeding. The second testicle is then removed in the same way, and a little carbolized oil applied to the wound, when the calf may be released.

PROPORTION OF CREAM TO MILK

M. O'Connor, Timaru

Please advise me what weight of cream should come off a gallon of milk with a 4-per-cent. test, the test of the cream being 40 per cent.

The Dairy Division

Assuming that the milk is of average specific gravity, 1 gallon would weigh 10-3 lb. This gallon of milk, containing 4 per cent, of butterfat, would yield 1 lb. of cream containing 40 per cent, butterfat. This means that the fat lost in the skim-milk is equivalent under general conditions to that contained in the 0-3 lb. of milk.

DOG WITH SORE FEET.

B. B., Kai Iwi

■ I have a dog suffering from swollen and inflamed feet. ' If it is allowed off the chain the feet soon become quite raw. All four feet are affected. I have tried applications of tar and lard, and have kept the dog inside a shed, but there has been no improvement. Could you suggest any treatment ?

The Live-stock Division

Apart from many possible accidents, pricks, wounds, &c., the feet of dogs are liable to become sore after a long day’s work ; the pads become worn, and the sensitive structures become hot and painful. For this, rest on clean bedding and bathing are essential. Hot boracic packs are useful. After bathing, the feet may be soaked in a mild alum bath, or, better still, painted with a little compound tincture of myrrh. Do not put the dog to work again till the feet have quite recovered. -

APPLE POLLINATION.

A. L. Frost, Huapai : —

I would feel obliged if you would kindly let me know the best apple for pollinating trees of the McLiver’s Winesap variety.

The Horticulture Division

Accepting the theory that any variety flowering at the same time will be an effective pollinator, any of the following varieties should answer : Salome , Delicious, Dougherty, Gravenstein, Dunn’s. Dunn’s is placed last in the list because it is inclined to be an alternate-year bearer, consequently there may be years when it will have no blossoms.

DEHORNING YOUNG CATTLE

Onetoko/’ Tokomaru Bay :

In regard to the dehorning of cattle, I understand that the use of caustic potash for treating, calves is recommended. This, however, owing to the extreme care necessary in its application, is not always successful where one handles big herds on stations, as the calves have , to be done at a certain age, which is not practicable. I fancy the best age is from fourteen to fifteen months — in October a dehorning-machine and applying Stockholm tar and kerosene, and taking a rim of hair off with the horn. I should be glad to have your advice in the matter.

The Live-stock Division :—

The time you state for dehorning the young beasts would be quite suitable. If using a dehorning-machine see that it is in first-class order before commencing. Use Stockholm tar as a dressing afterwards.